Broom-trimming machine and method



G. W. MANNING.

BROOM TRIMMING MACHINE AND METHOD.

APPLICATIQN FILED MAR- 8,1919.

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dzzzess G. W. MANNING.

BROOM TBIMMING MACHINE AN-D METHOD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 8. 1919.

Patented June 21, 1921.

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G. W. MANNING.

BROOM TRIMMING MACHINE AND METHOD. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 1919.

1 ,381,927. I PatentedJuneZl, 1921.

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unirsn stares PATENT OFFICE.

BROOM-TRIMMING MACHINE AND METHOD.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 21, 1921,

.Applicetion filed March 8, 1919; Serial No. 281,331.

To all iii/mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonon W. llLlANNING, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Broom-Trimming Machines and Methods, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to broomtrimming machines and methods and has for. its pri-' mary object the provision of an improved machine "for trimming to equal length by one stroke of a knife the bristles on opposite sides of a broom while trimming the bristles of the central portion somewhat shorter to slightly concave the -toot oi the broom along a line transverse to the general plane defined by the broom.

Further objects are: to provide an im-. proved method of trimming:

To provide improved nieansfor simultaneously trimming the foot and shoulders of a broom:

To provide improved means for supporting the waste ends to be trimmed from a broom during the cutting movement of the knife:

To provide novel means for preventing lateral movement of the bristles under the action of the knife:

To provide an improved knife shaped to prevent spreading of bristles at the end of its cut ng stroke:

To A nvide improved means for holding a broom against shifting and tilting under the force of shoulder trimming blades:

To provide improved shoulder trimming blades shaped and arranged to draw the bristles of a broom inward against the body of bristles during the trimming of the shoul ders 2 Toprovidc an improved machine for simultaneously trimming the foot and shoulders of a broom andmdjustable to handle various lengths and widths of brooms:

To provide improved means cooperating with the clamps of a broom for trimming bristles projecting from between the clamps:

To provide improwd means for centering a broom with re ation to apparatus for holding and trimming it:

To provide improvedmeans for guiding a broom into holding and trimming appenratus: and

To provide improved means for loosening a' broom from supporting elements upon which i has been pressed. l

Ether object and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the invention. r i

2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the die plate of the machine showing the devices carried thereby.

d is a top plan view of the base plate or": the machine showing the elements mounted thereon. r V

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section taken approximately on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the machine taken from the right hand end of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 77 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a planview of the upper side of a clamp broom which the present invention is adapted to trim, illustrating the positions assumed by the waste ends of the edge bristles during the cuttingv operation and showing in top plan a detent employed in centering the broom in the machine as well as a fragment of a centering arm, stop and sleeve forming part of thepresent invention.

Fig. 9 shows. for purposes or" explanation, an improper arrangement of parts "for trimming the foot of a broom.

Fig. 10 illustrates the uneven trim given to the foot of a broomby the operation depicted in Fig. 9.

Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the arrangement or parts in the present invention fortrimming the foot of a broom.

Fig. 12 shows in longitudinal central section the foot of a broom trimmed by the operation of the present. invention as depicted in. Fig. 11. y

i Fig. 13 is an edge elevation of the head of a clamp broom centered in and held by the machine of this invention, showing in side elevation part of a centering arm, in section a stop, and sleeve mounted thereon, and in end elevation a head block and presser head.

The frame of my machine comprises a baseplate adapted to lie horizontally upon the bed of a power press of any suit able type. Eeciprocable vertically toward and from the base plate is a'die plate 21 poitioned above the base plate and adapted for attachment to the vertically driven head ofthe power press (not'shown) bythe pro vision of any convenient means, such, for

example, as the centrally disposed upstanding stud 22. To insure accuracy of movement of the die-plate in a stra1ght line toward and from the base plate, the latter 1s provided with guide posts 28 and 24:,one at front thereof, the flat sides of the brooms beii horizontal during the cutting of the bristles as indicated in F 5. In dotted lines in Fig. l is shown fragmentarily a trimmed broom beingremoved from the machine. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the position of parts when'the'cutting of the broom is half completed. In Figs. 1 and 7 the normal position of the parts is shown at that point in the movement of'the die plate where the devices it carries are inposition to contact with the upper side of broom; for feeding and removal of brooms from the machine, however, the die plate is. elevated farther from the base plate than in Figs. 1 and 7.

' At the left in Figs. 1, 3, l, and 5 is shown the group of base plate elements and die plate devices "which operate upon the head of a broom; while at the right 1n these fig ures is shown the group of elements and devices operating upon the foot thereof. Certain interactions between these two groups of parts will appear from their further description herein. V 7

Figs. 8 and 1 8 illustrate the'clamp broom which certainparts of this invention are designed to hold and trim. This broom comprises a body of bristles, generally indicated at 2. which, just below its head, is sewed as at 28, in the customary manner, and has its bristles bound into a head by opposed clamps 29 and 31 the upper edges of which define the shoulder contour of the finished broom. Opposed shanks, 82 and 33 respectively, project one from each clamp, forming an axial handle socket, the longitudinal axis of the broom being indicated at 34 in Figs. 8, 10, 12, and 18. Various features of my improved machine are, however, adaptto end to trim to a convex line the foot of the broom as viewed from one of its flat sides; the foot. block at its upper outer corner is formed with a sharp edge 39 cooperating with a knife to trim the foot of a broom. Between the head and foot blocks, and preferably nearer the latter, is mounted transversely of the base plate a platen e1, having-its upper horizontal surface 42 positioned below the plane of the broom supporting surfaces 35 and 38 for supporting the medial portion of the broom. The three surfaces 85, 4-2, and 38 are thus accurately disposed, so that when a broom is pressed against them the bristles of its lower side will be downwardly arched. of the top'of the footbloclr is preferably cut down on the side toward the platen to form a surface l0 in the surface 42. e V

The bristles at the foot of a broom, being plane of platen unconfined by sewing, wiring, or clamps,

spread out to greater thickness and width than atv the head. Obviously, therefore, when a broom is laid flatwise on a horizontal surface, the bristles of the lower side will parallel that surface, those in the central portion ofthe broom will slant upward at a slight angle to the horizontal, and those of the'upper side will slant upward at a greater angle. If now a knife be passed vertically across that horizontal surface (the lower bristles remaining substantially horizontal) the knife, in compressing the bristles against the surface to cut them, will decidedly arch the bristles in the central and upper portions of the broom, so that, when the foot is trimmed and the bristles allowed to straighten out, the upper bristles will be decidedly longer than the lower ones. This improper mode of trimming a broom is depicted in Fig. 9 and its'result in Fig. 10. In these. figures, and in Figs. 11 and 12, the observer views the foot of the broom in section on the axial line 84-3 l of Fig. 8. In Fig. 9the bristles are gradually increased in length from the center to the upper side of the broom, while they are gradually decreased from the center to the lower side, this uneven trim rendering a broom diflicult to handle in sweeping. y my improved method and machine the bristles of the upper and'lower sides are trimmed to equal A large par lengths and those in the central portion are very slightly shorter to slightly concave the foot of the broom on a line from one fiat side of the broom to the other, while, on a line from edge to edge of the broom its foot is convexly trimmed; such a trim being conducive of ease in handling and long lite, due to uniform wear. This method is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 11, and its result in Fig. 12, the bristles being of equal length at equal distances in opposite directions from the axis 3%. It consists in maintaining the bristles oi the central portion substantially straight, arching from each other thebristles on opposite sides ot the central bristles, and passing a knife across the foot of the broom at right angles to the central bristles. To this end I provide the die plate-with a presser head 43 opposed to the head block 36, a presser foot as opposed to foot block 37, and a presser bar 45 opposed to platen 4.1; these three pressing devices holding the broom against the elements to which they are opposed, during the cutting operation.

lhe pr sser head is resiliently carried by the die plate 5; spaced threaded rods l6, rigidly fixed in the die plate, project upwardly therefrom and are spanned by a yoke 4a" movable along the rods and heldat any desired level by lock nuts a8. Spaced hangers i9 and 51 traverse vertical bearings pro- -idcd in the yoke and lie plate, being held from dropping through the yoke by pins Springs 53 are interposed between the yoke and a shoulder formed on each hanger to press the hangers normally downwardly in the yoke and die plate, and it is by the force of these springs that the presser head carried on the lower ends of the hangersis forced a 'ainst the head of a broom.

The presser foot is resiliently carried by the die plate (F 3 and '5) fastened by their inner ends near tne lower surface oi the die plate, along the transverse center line thcreot, by bolts 54: is a pair of co-extensive spaced, leaf springs 55 extending toward the right hand end 01 the machine and slanted downwardly; the presser foot ld carried on their outer endsbeing forced against the foot of a broom by the strength of these springs.

The presser bar is resiliently carried by the die plate by a similar arrangement of parts (li igs. 3 and ii): shorter and more steeply slanted leaf springs 56 have their inner ends "fastened near the die plate by bolts extend there-from toward the right hand end of the machine. carry prcsscr bar -15 on their cute ends and force it against the medial portion of a broom lying across platen ell.

ln 9 the highest point of the excessive arch oi the upper bristles is numbered 5'7; it is at this point th'at presser bar 4-5 lies across and presses upon the bristles of a broom in my machine, reducing somewhat the excessive arch of the upper bristles, straightening out the central bristles, and downwardly arching the lower bristles from the l vel of surfaces 35 and 88 to that of surface e2. Spreading of the bristles under the pressure of bar l5 is prevented by the sewing 28 and certain retaining posts, to be described, positioned at the edges of the broom near its toot.

A toot trimming knife 58 depends vertically from the right hand end or" the die plate in position to cooperate with the sharp lge 39 of the foot blockacross which it movesto cut oil the waste ends of the broom ifoot leaving the foot of the finished broom concaved as indicated at 59 in Fig. 12. To slightly convex the foot of the finished broom, toot block 3?, presser toot and knife 58 are, in plan "view, curved outwardly toward the right hand end of the machine, the resulting curve being shown at 61 in Fig. 8.

An endblock 62, (Figs. 1, i, 5, and 3) curved in conformity with knife 58 and the foot block, traverses the base plate and is spaced .sulliciently from the toot block to permit movement of the knife between itself and the foot block. The upper horizontal surface 63 of this end block supports the waste ends to be trimmed by the knife, so that, should the knife wear dulh these ends cannot bend down over edge 39 of the "foot block and be merely pinched between the knife and foot block, but are held at substantially right angles to the vertical cuttiiig movement of the knife so that they are cleanly severed. A-pair of orizontally disposed pivot arms G l are formed one on each extremity of the end block, these arms trayersing' the extremities'ot 1e toot block and being co-anially pivoted as at '35 to a portion 66 of the end block extending from the lower portion of the latter toward the center of the machine. 'Uoiled springs 6i havetheir upper ends embedded in the bottom of the end block near the extremities thereof, and hear at their lower ends on the smooth upper si'irt'ace of bed plate 20. These springs support surface 63 of the bed plate nornnilly flush wit 1 the broom supporting surface 38 oil the loot block and yield sli htly when, during the cutting of the bristles, a bunch of tough bristles otters unusual resistance to the knife. Mediately of extremities the bottom of the one bloc is cut away as at 68 to prevent collection or waste ends otbristles between the foot and end blocks. I l

The cutting edge 69 of knife 58 (Figs. 1, and 6) slants upwardly from back t "front of the machine, striking first the bristles at the rear edge of the broom and sue-c cutting the bristles forwardly of rear edge. To prevent travel of the bristles forwardly ot the machine in a horizontal direction between the toot block and presser foot under the slanting edge of the knife,

latter; A similar series of spaced teeth 72 projects downwardly toward the foot block from the presser foot, being staggered with respect to teeth 71 and slightly overlying, though out of contact with, the tips of the latter. Teeth 71 and 72 are allpreferably shorter than the thickness of the foot of the broom when pressed between the foot block and presser foot. By arresting lateral movement of the bristles, the teeth prevent grouping of the bristles into thick bunches, thereby relieving the knife of undue strain; and they also insure an'even trim ofthebristles as regards length.

The upwardly slanting cutting edge 69 of knife 58 terminates in a sharply down curved cutting hook 73which, in cutting the bristles at the extreme forward edge of the broom-indicated at 7 1 in. Fig. (i -exerts pressure backwardly and downwardly on them to prevent their bending forwardly and being either unevenly trimmed or merely pinched between the knife and. an end retaining post rising from the foot block and to be described. The action of the lower end of knife 58 and its hook 73 in pressing the edge bristles toward the axis of the broom is shown by the full line position of the waste ends to the right ofline 61 in Fig. 8; their position before they are out being indicated in dotted lines.

To prevent horizontal spreadingof the bristles at the edges of the broom near the foot thereof when it is fed into the machine and during descent of thepresser foot a pair of retaining posts 75 and 76 are provided projecting upwardly one from each end of p the foot block. These posts are rigidly fixed curved in conformity with the broom shoulder contour defined by the edges of clamps 29 and 31. To assist in supporting the heads of thebristles during the shoulder trimming operation the head block is provided with a raised outer rim having a bristle supporting upper surface '?'7 and a sharp edge 7 8. The difference between surfaces 35 and 77 of the head block is equal to the thickness of clamp 29 which lies upon surface 35 and within the raised outer rim. A pairof shoulder trimming blades 79 and 81 depend vertically from the dieplate near its left hand end and move across the edge 78 to cut off the waste head ends of thebristles. These blades may conveniently be made of a single piecereces sed as at 82 (Figs. 3 and 5) to straddle the shanks 32 and 33. The cutting edges 83 of these blades slant downwardly from their inner to their outer ends and are sharply pitched'atthe outer lower ends to form hooks 84 positioned above the edge bristles of the broom for pressing the edge bristles inwardly against the body of uncut bristles, thereby securing. a clean cutting of the edge bristles on the descent of the blades. The cutting of the bristles at the head of the broom occurs between thesharp edge 78 of, the head block and edges 83 of the blades, the edge 78 being discontinuous in its center, as at 85 to accommodate shank The clamps 29 and 31, however, being so close to edge 78, assist materially in supporting the bristles during cutting. The clamps also prevent movement of the bristles in a horizontal direction toward the axis of the broom as the blades.

descend, being tightly bound against the body of bristles. The descent of the blades against the shoulders of the broom has a tendency to tilt the broom on the head block about a transverse horizontal axis, depressing the shanks and raising the foot. This tendency l overcome by spacing the presser head d3 toward the center of the machine from the central recess 82 between theblades, thus giving it great leverage over the downward thrust of the blades. The force of the presser head against the head block prevents shifting of the broom horizontally on surface" 35, this holding function being assisted by contact between the shoulder edges of the clamps and the raised outer rim of the head block. It will be noted that the anticlinal disposition of blade edges 83 balances the tendency each has, in cutting, to push the head of the broom toward the other the cutting forces of the blades operate horizontally against each other as well as downwardly, The trimming of the shoulders of the broom is simultaneous with the action-of knife 58 in trimming the foot, both being accomplished in a single down stroke of die plate 21.

The retaining posts 7 5 and 7 6 operate to center the foot of the broom in the machine for trimming. In feeding the machine, however, the head of the broom enters first. A centering post 86 (Figs. 1,4 and 5) is pivoted on a vertical axis in the base plate at a point spaced somewhat toward the left end of the machine from the head block 36, this vertical axis lying in the axial vertical plane of a broom properly centered for trimming. A vertical cylindrical bearing 87 is provided for the centering post and in which the latter rotates and slides piston like to a slight extent. interposed between the bottom of the bearing and a shoulder formed on the centering post is a spring 88 which holds the post normally at the upper end of its short path of vertical movement, the post traversing a shelf 89 forming the bottom of the bearing and being shackled below the shelf by a washer and lock nuts 91. The upper end of the centering post is bifurcated, and between its bifurcations 92, and pivoted thereto by the horizontal pin 93, is the flattened outer end 9 1 of a cylindrical centering arm 95. The axis of pivot pin 93 is preferably normally in the horizontal plane of the axis of a broom centered in the machine. However, under the force of presser head 43 the head of a broom may be slightly compressed, lowering the broom axis. To accommodate this slight change in the position of the broom axis the centerin post 86 is mounted for vertical reciprocation. It is customary to use enameled or painted clamps on clamp brooms. Frequently, due to the fresh condition of this enamel the clamps, under pressure, stick to the head block, or presser head, or to both. If this occurs with a given batch of brooms, lock nuts 91 can be lowered on the centering post, causing spring 88 to raise the latter and positioning the axis of pin 93 normally slightly higher than the axis of a broom lying loosely on the head block.

.Centering arm 95 fits snugly within the handle socket formed by the shanks 32 and 3?) (Fig. 13) so that, after a broom is trimmed the release of thepresser head allows spring 88 to force the lower clamp upwardly from surface 35, overcoming any adhesion between that surface and the painted lower clamp. The vertical movement of the centering post is, however, never more than enough to overcome this adhesion, while the vertical movement of the presser head is much greater: hence, when nuts 91 limit upward movement of the pin 93, arm 95 holds the broom head from rising further and the continued elevation of the presser head-overcomes any adhesion between it and the painted upper clamp.

small coiled spring 96 (Fig. holds the inner free end of the centering arm normally uptilted, as shown in Fig. 1. In feeding the machine the shanks of the handle socketarc slipped onto the bluntly pointed free end of the centering arm, (Fig. 13) this movement being limited by an annular stop ring 97 axially movable on the arm and fixed in any adjusted position by a set screw During the trimming of a broom the pressure exerted on its clamps by presser head :iiend the head block 36 tends to bend the shanks and 33 from each other tosition in discharging the machine.- The free I endof the centering arm is swung forward as shown and the handle socket pushed upon it till limited by contact withstop ring 97 The foot of the broom is elevated above the top of the retaining post 75 and passed over that post till its rear edge bristles are stopped by the opposite, rear retaining post 76; by pressure of the hand the operator pushes the forward edge bristles over the top of post 75 and down along the inner wall thereof, confining the foot of the broom between these posts the rear edge of the broom having dropped by gravity below the level of the tops of the retaining posts, the rotative relation. between the arm and handle socket permitting this movement. The centering post and arm rotate about the vertical axis of the former as the foot of the broom is swung into position, and the centering arm turns about pivot pin 93 when the axis of the broom drops below the level of the tops of posts 75 and 7 6. To insure accurate centering of the broom in the machine there is providednear the rear inner corner of the head block (Figs. 1, l, 5, and

7) a vertical detent 102 projecting rigidly from the base plate in a position to strike the rear edge of a broom and limit its in ward swing about the axis of centering post 86. This detent is preferably mounted for adjustment forwardly and backwardly in the machine by means of a slotted bracket dovetailed into the. top of the base plate and held stationary by a set screw: by this ad justment and the exchange of one head block for another the machine is conditioned to handle brooms of varying widths.

To prevent the catching of bristles on teeth 71. when the foot of a broom is fed into the machine, to permit quick centering ofthe broom before it is impaled on these teeth, and to eject itfrom the teeth after trimming, 1 position a guide plate 103 (Figs. 1, 1, 5 and 6) transversely of the machine just inwardly of the inner edge of surface of the foot block. This guide plate normally occupies the dotted line position shownwin Fig. 6, bridging the tips of teeth 71 so that the bristlesmay slide over them to the rear retaining post 76. It is, however, resiliently mounted, preferably comprising a leaf spring bolted by one end to portion 66 of the end block at the front of the. machine, forming a loop 104C in front of the machine and. extending thence backwardly.

The spring loop 104 permits it to bend under the force of presser foot 44 and presser bar 45 to the full line position of Figs. 5 and 6; while upon release by these pressing members the spring loop elevates the guide plate,

Figs. 1,3,4,5and 6illustrate a lower car-.

riage 106 and an upper carriage 107 rigidly mounted respectively on the base plate and die plate and uniformly adjustable therein toward and fromthe centering post 86. Their uniform adjustment is made accurate 3 and 4) by means of dowel pins 108 snugly engageable in mortises 109 before the fastening bolts 111 are set in their tapped holes 112. The transverse reach of the lower car-.

riage comprises the foot block 37. These carriages and the parts connected to them are adjustable to condition the machine for trimming brooms to various lengths; these parts comprise all the members herein described as operating on the foot of a broom.

In theoperation of the machine, and considering a broom to be centered therein as above described, the die plate descends along the guide posts 23 and 24. The broom pressing devices carried by the die plate strike the upper side of thebroom in advance of the foot trimming knife 58 and the head trimming plates 81, presser head 48 binding the head of the broom against the head block 86, presser bar 45 pushing the medial portion of the broom downwardly sufhciently to straighten the bristles in the central portion of the broom and leave the bristles of the upper and lower sides arched equally from each other,the present foot 44 driving its teeth 72 into the body of loristles, forcingthe foot of the broom down upon the foot block 37, and impaling it upon the teeth 71 of the foot block. As seen in Figs. 4 and 5, the surface 38 of the foot block is very narrow so that the bristles of the lower side of the broom, when arched downwardly by pressure of the bar 45, will not be-bent so sharply as to break them. Normally the force of bar 45 arches the lower bristles not only against the broom supporting surface 42 of the platen, but also causes them to rest likewise upon the inner or left hand edge portion of surface 40 of the foot block. Knife 58 and blades 81 now strike the broom. As best seen in Fig. 6, the foot trimming knife strikes the rear edge bristles first and trims the foot of the broom progressively from back to front of the machine, The retain ing teeth 71 and, 72 limit horizontal movement of the foot bristles under the edge 69 of the knife; and the hook 73 of that edge,

being downturned, cuts the forward edge bristles T4- cleanlyypreventing their being bent horizontally forward and unevenly trimmed as to length or merely pinched without being cut. i'he hooks 84 at the lower outerextremities of the cutting edges 7 83 of the blades 81 strike the shoulders of the broom at the edges of the latter bending the waste ends of the edge bristles inwardly from the position indicated in dotted lines the left end of Fig. 8 to the full line position there shown, thereby forcing them against the body of waste ends to be cut and holding them suitably" for clean trimming. As the blades continue downward they shear off the waste ends of the bristles'projecting from centering arm 95.

I claim: 1. In a broom trimming machine, the

combination with head and foot blocks comprising surfaces in a common plane adapted to support respectively the head and foot of a broom, of a platen between said blocks comprising a. broom supporting surface without said common plane.

2. In a broom tidinmingmachine, the com bination with elements comprising a set of broom supporting surfaces arouately disposed in the direction of length of the bristles of a broom, of means for holding a broom against said surfaces, said means being movabletoward and from said surfaces and disposed to contact with the ends and medial portions of the brlstles of a broom.

3. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with members arranged in pairs for holding the headand foot of a broom to be trimmed, of a broom deflecting device movable against the broom between the head and foot thereof and mounted in the machine to yield independently of said members. v

4. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with head and foot blocks comprising surfaces in common plane adapted to support respectively the head and foot of a broom to be trimmed, of a platen between said blocks comprising a surface offset with respect to said common plane and adapted to support the medial portion of a broom, a die-plate reciprocable toward. and

from the blocks and platen, a presser head and a presser foot both carried by the die-' the die-plate and opposed to the platen.

5. In a broom trimming machine, the

combination with head and foot blocks comprising surfaces in a common plane adapted to support respectively the head and foot of a broom to be trimmed, of a platen between said blocks comprising a surface offset with respect to said common plane and adapted to support the medial portion of a broom, a die-plate reeiprocable toward and from the blocks and platen, devices opposed to the respective blocks to hold the head and foot of a broom thereon, and a presser bar resiliently mounted on the die-plate and opposed to the platen to press a broom against the same.

6. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a set of elements positioned to support a broom to be trimmed, of a die-plate reciprocable toward and from said elements, devices yieldingly carried by the plate for holding a broom'against said elements, and cutters mounted on the plate for simultaneouslytrimming the head and foot of a broom.

7. In a broom trimming machine, the oombinaton with a set of broom supporting elements, of a die-plate reciproeable toward and from the same, and cutters spacedly mounted on the plate for simultaneously trimming; the head and foot of a broom supported on said elements.

8. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with broom supporting elements, of devices for holding a broom against the same, said elements being arcuately disposed in the direction of length of the broom bristles and said lClQVlCQS bein ielda-bl to 3 .V

mounted for movement toward the elements and so arranged relatively to the elements as to hold in substantially straight condition the bristles in the central portion of the broom and to arch from each other the bris t les on opposite sides of said central bristles.

9. In a broom trimming 'inaehine, the combination with a set of broom supporting elements adapted to contact with one flat side of a broom, of aseries of devices each being positioned to contact with the other flat side 01"" the broom in opposition to one of said elements to hold the broom against the elements, said elements being arcuately disposed in the direction of length of the broom bristles and said devices being yieldably mounted for movement toward the elements to hold in substantially straight condition the bristles in the central portion of the broom and to arch from each other the bristles on opposite sides of said central bristles.

10. In a broom trimming machine, the

combination with broom supporting elements comprising a foot block having a sharp edge, of a knife movable across said edge to trim a broom supported on th footblock, and an end block spaced from the foot block to permit movement of the knife between said blocks and llilvlnf? a surface normally flush \vith'the sharp edge of the footblock and adapted to support the waste ends of bristles trimmed by the knife, said end bloc}: being yieldable in the direction of the cutting movement of th knife.

'11. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a base plate, of spaced "foot and end blocks mounted thereon for support of a broom to be trimmed, a knife reciproca ble between the blocks and against the foot block to trim the foot of a broom,

and means whereby said end block is resiliently mounted on the base plate to yield in the direction of the cutting movement of the knife.

12.111 a broom trimming machine, the combination with a base plate, of a footbloclr rigidly mounted thereon and having a sharp edge, an end block substantially coextensive with the" toot-block and spaced therefrom, parallel pivot arms one on each extremitiy of the end block, traversingthe extremities of the foot block and coaxially pivoted to the base plate, springs holding the end block normally spaced from the base platewith its upper surface substantially level with the sharp edge of the footblock, and a knife reciprocablebetween said blocks to trim a broom supported by the blocks.

13. In a broom trimming machine, the

combination of a toot-block adapted to support broom bristles laid across it, a knife movable across an edge oi'i'the foot-block to cut oil the waste ends of such bristles, and means yieldable in the direction of the cutting movement of the knife for supporting said waste ends during,- the cutting operation.

14. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a foot block forming a transverse support for the bristles of a broom to be trimmed, ot a presser toot movable toward the block to hold the bristles against the latter, a series of spaced teeth projecting: toward the presser foot from the toot-block, and a lrniiie movable across an edge of the foot-block to trim the-bristles.

15. in a broom trimming machine, the combination with a foot-block forming}; a transverse support for the bristles of a broom to be trimmed, of a series of spaced teeth upstanding from the block and substantially (LO-EXiZQIlSlVB therewith, and aknife movable across an edgeiof the foot block to trim the brissles.

transverse support for the bristles of a broom to be trimmed, of a presser foot movable toward the block LO hold the bristles against the latter, a series of spaced teeth projecting toward the presser foot from the foot block, a series of spaced teeth projecting toward the foot bloc; from the presser foot, and a knife movable across an edge of the foot block to trim the bristles.

17. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a foot block forming a transverse support for the bristles of a broom to be trimmed, of a presser foot movable toward the block to hold therbristles against the latter, a series of spaced teeth projecting toward the presser foot from the foot block, a series of spaced teeth, staggored with respect to the foot block teeth, projecting toward the foot block from the presscr foot, and a knife movable across an edge of the foot block to trim the bristles.

18. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a foot block forming a transverse support for the bristles of a broom to be trimmed, of a presser foot movable toward the block to hold the bristles against the latter, a series of spaced teeth projecting toward the presser foot from the foot block, a series of spaced teeth, staggered with respect to the foot block teeth, projecting toward the foot block foot, all of said teeth being shorter than the thickness of the broom when pressed against the foot block, and-a knife movable across an ec ge of the foot block to trim the bristles. 7

broom supporting surface, of a knifemovable across an edge of the block, to trim a broom held on said surface, and spaced teeth projecting from said surface of the block;

In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a base plate, of a lower carriage mounted thereon, a die plate reciprocable toward and from the base plate, an upper carriage carried by the die plate, broom supporting elements mounted on the lower carriage, broom pressing devices carried by said upper carriage, said elements and devices cooperating to grip the foot of a broom to be trimmed, and a centering post mounted on the base plate independently of from the presser the lowercarriage and forming a stop for the head of a broom; said carriagesbeing adjustable on their respective plates toward and from said centering post;

22. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a base plate, of means mounted thereon forming a stop for the head of a broom, a foot block mounted on the base plate for support of the foot of a broom and having a sharp edge, a die-plate recip'rocable toward and from the base plate, and a knife carried by the die-plate and movable thereby across the sharp edge of the foot block to trim a broom, said foot block and knife being uniformly adjustable on their respective plates toward and from said means. I

23; In broom trimming ll'lcClllDQ, the combinatmn with a base plate, of means thereon for fixedly positioning the head of.

ed to support the waste ends to be trimmed from a broom, a presser foot carried by the upper carriage and movable toward the foot block to hold a broom against the same, and

knife carried by the upper carriage and movable across an edge of the foot block and between the foot and end blocks to trim a broom. Y

24. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a base plate, of means thereon for fixedly positioning the head of a broom, a lower carriage mounted on the base plate, a'die plate reciprocable toward and from the base plate, an upper carriage carried by the die plate, said carriages being uniformly adjustable toward and from said means, afoot block mounted on the lower carriage and having a surface adapted to support the foot of a broom to be trimmed, a presser foot carried by the rip-- per carriage and movable toward the foot block to hold a broom against the same, a series of spaced teeth projecting toward the presser bar from the foot block, and a series of spaced teeth which are staggered with respect tothose of the foot block projectmg toward the'foot block from the presser,

foot. 7

25. In a broom trimming machme,-th e combination with a base plate, of means thereon for fixedly positioning the head of f a broom, a lower carriage mounted on the base plate, a die plate reciprocable toward and from the base plate, an upper carriage carried by the die plate, said carriages being uniformly adjustable toward and from said means, a foot block mounted on the lower carriage and having a surface adap ed to support the foot of a broom to be trimmed, a presser toot carried by the upper carriage and movable toward the toot block to hold broom "against the same, spaced teeth projecting toward the presser bar from the foot block, spaced teeth projectiug toward the foot block from the presser foot, and a knife carried by the up,- per carriage, having edge slanted with respect to the broom supportingsurface ot' the foot block and movable across an edge of the foot block to trim a broom.

26. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a base plate, or means at one end thereof for fixedly positioning the hear. of a broom, a lower carriage mounted on the other end oi. the base-plate, broom supporting elements mounted on said lower carriage, a die plate reciprocable toward and from the base plate, an upper carriage carried on the die plate, and broom pressing devices carried by said upper carriage, one

opposite each of said supporting elements, movable toward the elements to hold a broom against the latter, said elements being arouately disposed in the direction of length of the broom bristles and said devices being yieldably mounted on the die plate to hold in substantially straight condition the bristles in the central portion of a broom and to arch from each other-the bristles on opposite sides of said central portion, said upper and lower carrlages being uniformly adjustable on their respective'plates toward and from the broom head positioning means.

27. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a base plate, and a die plate reciprocable toward and from the same; of a group of membersfor performing work upon a broom comprising elements mounted at one end of the base plate, and devices carried on the corresponding end 01" the die plate; a second group of work performing members, comprising elements mounted on the opposite end oi the base plate, and devices carried on the adjacent end or" the die plate; one of said groups be ing mounted for uniform adjustment of its elements and devices toward and from the other group.

'28. lln a broom trimming machine, the combination with a head block adapted to support flatwise the head of a broom to be trimmed and shaped in conformity with the shoulders of the broom, of a device for holding a broom head against the block, and a pair of shoulder trimming blades movable across the shaped edge of theblock, slant-, ing downward from their inner toward their outer ends, and pitched more sharply downward attheir outer ends, said outer ends of the blades being positioned to trim the bristles at the opposite edges of the broom.

29. .ln broom trimming machine, the combination with means for fixedly positioning the head of a clamp broom, of a pair of blades movable acrosssaidhead for trimining simultaneously the shoulders of the broom, the edge of each of said blades being shaped to cut the shoulder bristles by pres sure across the same in a direction angled with respect to the alane of the broom and from the edge of tie broom toward the longitudinal axis thereof.

30. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a fixed head block, of a same, blades fixed on the die plate for trimming a broom supported on the head block, a presser head carried by the die plate and opposed to the head block to hold a broom upon the block, and mechanism for securing the presser head to the die plate whereby, during the cutting movement of the blades the presser head is resiliently pressed against abroom on the head block, said mechanism being adjustable to vary the pressure exerted by the presser head.

31. In a machine for trimming the sh0ulders-ott clamp brooms, said shoulders being defined by the edges of the clamps, the combination with means for holding the broom stationary, of blades movable across the edges of the clamps for cutting bristles held between the clamps and projecting therefrom. I

32. In a machine for trimming the shouL ders of clamp brooms, the combination with a head block adapted to support one side of a broom near the shoulder thereof, of a blade movable across a shoulder of the broom in a direction toward said block to trim said shoulder, and a presser head exerting pressure toward the block and against the opposite side of the broom at a point remo ;e from said shoulder to prevent tilting of the broom during the cutting action of the blade.

83. in a machine for trimming a broom having a handle socket, the combination with broom gripping members, of an arm shaped to enter the handle socket and projecting toward said member, and a stop 011 the arm positioned to contact with the end of the socket wall to limit movement of the broom onto the arm, said stop being adjustable axially of the arm.

34. In a machine for trimming a clamp broom having separate clamp shanks defining a handle socket, of a head block for support of one side of the head of the broom,

die plate reciprocable toward and from the apresser head movable against the opposite'side of the broom to hold the latter against the block, an arm' positioned to enter the handle socket, and means for proventing distortion of said shanks under the force of the head and block comprising a sleeve carried by the arm, spaced therefrom and shaped interior-1y to receive the clamps and holdthem against separation. v

85. In a machine for trimming a broom having opposed head clamps and opposed shanks, one on each clamp, defining a handle socket, the combination with opposed members exerting pressure on the clamps to hold the broom stationary, of a centering arm projecting toward said members and shaped to enter the handlesocket, a stop on the arm positioned to contact with the end of the socket Wall to limit movement of the shanks onto the arm, and a sleeve fixedly supported by the stop, spaced therefrom, and'shapcd interiorly to receive said clamps and hold them against separation.

36. ln 'a'machine for trimming a clamp broom having separate shanks defining a handle socket, the combination with elements for performing wort upon a broom and exerting force thereon tending to separate said shanks, of an arm positioned to enter the handle socket, and shaped to substan tially fill the same, a ring mountedon the arm for adjustment axially thereof and positioned to Contact with the end of the socket all to limit movement of the shanks onto the arm, and a shank embracing sleeve mounted on the ring, projecting toward the free end of the arm and spaced, from the arm sufliciently to receive between itself and said arm the free ends or" the shanks.

37. ln'a machine for trimming a broom having a handle socket, the combination with a base plate, of a block fixed thereon for support of a broom, a centering post vertically pivoted in the base plate, a corn tering arm projectinr laterally from the post and shaped to nt the socket of the broom a id a detent upstand ng rigidly from the base plate to limit pivotalmovement of the broom about the axis oi the centering post.

38. having a handle socket, the combination with a base plate, of a block fixed thereon for support of a broom, a centering post vertically pivoted in the base plate, a centering arm projecting laterally from the post and shaped to i'itthe socket of the broom, and a detent upstanding rigidly from the base plate to limit pivotal movement of the broom about the axis of the centering post,

said detent being adjustable in a direction transverse to the axis of a broom on the head block.

39. In a-machine for trimming a broom positioned In a machine for trimming a broom having a handle socket, the combination With a base plate, or a head block fixed thereon for support or" a broom on its horizontal up per surface, a presser head reciprocable toward and from the head block to press a broom against, the same and release it, a centering post vertically pivoted in thebase plate near the head block and resiliently mounted for reciprocation in the direction of movement of the presser head, and a centering arm projecting laterally from the post and shaped to lit the socket of'the broom. 1 w 1 40. In a machine for trimming a broom having handle socket, the combination With a frame, and broom tdmming members operatively mounted therein, of means for centering broom with respect to said members, comprisinga vertically pivoted centerpost, a centering arm horizontally pivoted thereto and shaped to fit the socket of the broom, and a detent positioned to limit the movementof the broom about the axis of the centerin post.

41. In a machine for trimming a broom having a handle socket, the combination With frame, and broom trimming members operatively m nnted therein, 01 means for centering a broom transversely and axially- WlbhTQSPBCi? to said members, comprising a vertically pivoted centering post, a center? ing arm horizontally pivoted thereto and shaped to lit the socket of the broom, a stop c on said arm and positioned to limit movement of the broom onto the arm, and a detent positioned to limit movement of the tion with aframe, of a centering post ver tically pivoted therein, a centering arm horizontally pivoted to the post and shaped to said handle socket, and a spring inter- *oosed'betiveen the post and arm to normally hold the freeend of the arm elevated above the horizontal, said spring being of insnfit cient strength to overcome the weight ofa broom'soch ted upon the arm.

ln 'amachine for operating upon a broom having longitndina'lly separated shanks projecting from its head and delining a handle socket, the combination with a frame, of a centering post pivoted therein and mounted to yield axially, a centering arm shaped tofit said handle socket and 46. In a broom trimming machine, the

combination with an element having a broom supporting surface, a device movable toward and from said surface to press a broom thereagainst, and a series of teeth projecting toward the device from said element, of a guide plate substantially co-extensive with the series of teeth, yieldable in the direction of the broom pressing movement of said device, and, in the remote position of the device with respect to said ele ment, standing between the teeth and the element.

d7. in a broom trimming machine, the combination with a foot block having a broom supporting surface, a presser foot rcciprocable toward and from said surface to press a broom against the same and thereafter release it, and teeth projecting from aid surface toward the presser foot and adapted to impale a broom, of a guide plate normally bridging the tips of the teeth and resiliently mounted in the machine to yield under the force of the presser foot when the broom is impaled and to thrust the broom from the teeth upon the releasing movement of the presser foot.

l-S. In a broom trimming machine, the combination with a foot block having a broom supporting surface of su'llicient length to receive llatwise the full wicth of the foot of a broom, of a pair ofbristle retaining posts projecting rigidly one from each end thereof a distance greater than the normal thickness of the foot of an untiimmed broom, and a presser foot movable toward said surface in the direction of extent of said posts to'con'zpress the bristles between itself and the foot block and confine them between. said posts.

l9. ln a broom trimming machine, the combination with a foot block having a broom supporting surface, of a pair of bristle retaining posts projecting one from each end thereof a distance greater than the normal. thickness of the foot of an untrimmed broom, a presser foot reciprocable toward said surface from a position remotely beyond the free ends of the posts to compress the foot of a broom and release the san'ie, and a guide bar projecting from the free end of one of said posts in a direction opposite to said foot block.

50. in a broom trimming machine, the combination with a base plate, of a foot block mounted thereon having a surface adapted to supportthe foot of a broom to be trin'imeil, pair of retaining posts pro jecting from said surface one at each end thereof, and means pivoted in the base plate on an axis at right angles to said surface and remote therefrom for centering the head of a broom with respect to said foot block and posts.

51. ln broom trimming machine, the combination of a base plate; broom supporting elements mounted thereon comprising a foot block having a room supporting surface extending transversely of the base plate, and a pair of retaining posts projecting from said surface, one at each end thereof; a die plate reciprocable toward and from the base plate; broom gripping and cutting devices carried thereby for cooperation with said elements; and means for guiding a broom edgewise between said elements and devices during the separation thereof and centering it with respect to them, comprising a centering post 'vert'cally pivoted in the base plate remote from the foot block, a centering horizontally pivoted to the centering post and shaped to slidably enter broom to be trimmed and to permit rotative movement of the broom about the longitudinal axis of the arm, and a guide bar projecting outwardly of one of said retaining posts from the free end thereof.

5525 In a broom trimming machine, the combination of a base plate; broom supporting elements mounted thereon comprising a foot block having a broom supporting surface extending transversely of the base plate, a pair of retaining posts projecting from said surface, one at each end thereof, and broom impaling teeth also projecting from' said surface; a die plate reeiprocable toward and from the base plate; broom gripping and cutting devices carried thereby for coiipcration with said elements; and means for guiding edgewise between said elements and devices, during their separation, and centering with respect to the same a broom having a handle socket projecting axially from its head, comprising a centering post vertically pivoted in the base plate IGl'lflOtG from the foot block, a centering arm horizontally pivoted to the centering post shaped to slidably fit within said socket and permit rotative movement of the socket about the longitudinal axis of the arm, a guide bar projecting outwardly of one of said retaining posts from the free end thereof, and a guide plate substantially coextensive with said foot block, bridging the tips of a handle socket axially positioned on the l said teeth, and resiliently mounted for reciprocation between a pesition above the teeth and one "he plane of said surface of the feet block.

SEE/Elle method of trimming which consists in arching from the bristles at opposite sides of brooms, each other she. broom,

mainteini 11g tially stT-Qa'igh" ntral bristles substanes against movement, pro- 10 duemg a transversely concave broom end by transversely aeress'the bristles s0 GEORGE W. MANNING. 

